Residents Rally In Patchogue to Protect Mueller

Residents last night rallied outside Rep. Lee Zeldin's Patchogue office to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump administration - adding to the many rallies around the country.

On Wednesday, President Trump asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign - a move many believe could be the first step toward firing Mueller and halting an already year-long investigation.

Chris Cangeleri, who attended the rally, said about 300 people protested outside Zeldin's office.

"I was encouraged that progressives, already weary from a long primary and a grueling election season we're able to rally against the latest attack on our democratic institutions," Cangeleri said. "The message? We aren't tired and we ain't going away. The energy was amazing."

Zeldin, a supporter of Trump, said firing Mueller is not "advisable" in 2017. But in May, he tweeted, "If [Mueller] still has no evidence of the President colluding with the Russians to win election, now is a pretty darn good time to come clean with it."

Following Sessions' resignation, Trump sidestepped Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and appointed Sessions' chief of staff and White House ally, Matt Whitaker in the interim.

The rally was sponsored by Show Up LI, Action Together Long Island, Suffolk Progressives, Pantsuit Nation LI, Resist and Replace and PEER.

Attempts to reach Zeldin were not successful.

Photos: Chris Cangeleri